Former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Doubts Netanyahu Will Repent, Suggests Gadi Eizenkot Might

Former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef stated in his weekly sermon on Saturday night that he believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not repent, but former IDF Chief of Staff and current Yisrael party leader Gadi Eizenkot might. Yosef, a leading figure in the Shas party, emphasized the secular nature of the state and expressed hope that some individuals would repent, though he explicitly said there is no chance Netanyahu will do so. He said, "What, will Bibi Netanyahu repent? There is no chance he will repent. Eizenkot maybe will repent."

Eizenkot recently spoke in an interview with Yishai Cohen from Kikar HaShabbat about the Shas party, noting that many of its voters serve in the military and describing Shas as a party with broad Zionist components. He expressed support for Shas as a partner provided it commits to three fundamental principles. Eizenkot also praised Shas leader Aryeh Deri's security understanding in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Shas has declared it will not commit to the right-wing bloc unless laws on Torah study and freezing arrests are passed. The party's publication, HaDerech, criticized attempts to dilute the Basic Law on Torah Study, warning against media propaganda and emphasizing the law's importance to the Torah world. This signals internal tensions within the right-wing camp regarding legislative priorities and alliances.

Yosef's comments and Shas's political stance highlight ongoing debates within Israel's religious and political spheres about repentance, party alliances, and the role of Torah study laws in coalition agreements.